Massachusetts State Legislative Election 2018 Political Courage Test

Abortion & Reproductive

1. Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation?
- Pro-choice

2. Should abortion be legal when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape?
- Yes

3. Do you support the prohibition of public funds for organizations that perform abortions?
- No

4. Other or expanded principles
- I believe that the government has no right to restrict a woman's medical care, and I believe that public health care funding extends to all forms of a woman's health care.

Budget, Spending, & Tax

1. Reducing state employee salaries AND/OR pensions?
- Yes

2. Instituting mandatory furloughs AND/OR layoffs for state employees?
- Yes

3. Reducing benefits for Medicaid recipients?
- No

4. An income tax increase on any tax bracket?
- Yes

5. Other or expanded principles
- The only reduction in salary/pension I would support would be for elected officials, as I experienced in 2013. I supported the sur-tax on incomes of more than $1 million in principle.

Campaign Finance & Government Reform

1. Do you support any limits on campaign contributions to state candidates?
- Yes

2. Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions?
- Yes

3. Do you support the use of an independent AND/OR bipartisan commission for redistricting?
- Yes

4. Do you support requiring a government-issued photo identification in order to vote at the polls?
- No

5. Do you support allowing candidates to use their campaign funds for childcare?
- Yes

6. Other or expanded principles
- The biggest challenge to good government is money in politics and it must be addressed.

Crime & Public Safety

1. Do you support capital punishment for certain crimes?
- No

2. Do you support the legalization of marijuana for recreational purposes?
- Yes

3. Should a minor accused of a violent crime be prosecuted as an adult?
- Yes

4. Do you support the enforcement of federal immigration laws by state and local police?
- No

5. Other or expanded principles
- Question c depends on the age of the minor, and a younger one should not, so that question is not a simple yes/no. As to d, I believe that the federal government funds and enforces its own laws, and immigration is no different.

Economic

1. Do you support state government spending as a means of promoting economic growth?
- Yes

2. Do you support lowering state taxes as a means of promoting economic growth?
- Yes

3. Do you support reducing state government regulations on the private sector?
- Yes

4. Do you support expanding access to unemployment benefits?
- Yes

5. Do you support requiring welfare applicants to pass a drug test in order to receive benefits?
- No

6. Do you support an increase of the minimum wage of Massachusetts?
- No

7. Other or expanded principles
- This entire section is subjective and yes/no answers are misleading. As to b, I do not support wholesale lowering, just economic incentives. On c, I only support reducing needless regulation, not necessary regulation like workplace safety standards. I don't support an increase to the minimum wage only because we increased it in 2018, so it's not necessary.

Education

1. Do you support adopting federal education standards in Massachusetts?
- No

2. Do you support state funding for charter schools?
- No

3. Should immigrants unlawfully present in the United States who graduate from Massachusetts high schools be eligible for in-state tuition at public universities?
- Yes

4. Other or expanded principles
- If federal standards are less stringent than Mass standards than we should stay with our standards, but I still support federal standards in general so other state's systems can improve. I don't support increased aid to charter schools as we should benefit all schools. I don't consider in-state tuition to be any type of entitlement -- it's a pricing that helps our economy and our businesses.

Environment & Energy

1. Do you support state funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, thermal)?
- Yes

2. Do you support state government regulations of greenhouse gas emissions?
- Yes

3. Do you support increasing state funding for clean drinking water initiatives?
- Yes

4. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Gun

1. Do you generally support gun-control legislation?
- Yes

2. Should background checks be required on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows?
- Yes

3. Should teachers be allowed to bring guns into the classroom?
- No

4. Should a license be required for gun ownership?
- Yes

5. Other or expanded principles
- I believe that while the vast majority of citizens have a right to possess the vast majority of firearms, there are some people, such as convicted felons and people suffering from a mental illness who do not have that right. And I believe that some firearms are not those foreseen by the drafters of the Second Amendment and if they had foreseen those arms, they would not have included them.

Health

1. Should the state government increase funding for treatment facilities to combat opioid abuse?
- Yes

2. Do you support Medicaid expansion through Massachusetts's health care programs?
- Yes

3. Do you support requiring individuals to purchase health care insurance?
- Yes

4. Do you support legislation that grants citizens the right to choose to die through euthanasia?
- Yes

5. Do you support eliminating religious exemptions for vaccinations?
- No

6. Other or expanded principles
- This is also oversimplified. As to c, Massachusetts individuals are required to purchase health care insurance, and those who cannot afford it are covered by MassHealth. I believe that some citizens should have the right to "death with dignity" but only with important safeguards such as were included in recent legislation, not a blanket right.

Social

1. Do you support the inclusion of sexual orientation in Massachusetts's anti-discrimination laws?
- Yes

2. Do you support the inclusion of gender identity in Massachusetts's anti-discrimination laws?
- Yes

3. Do you support greater efforts by Massachusetts state government in closing the pay gap between men and women?
- Yes

4. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Legislative Priorities

In the following area, please explain in a total of 100 words or less, your top two or three priorities if elected. If they require additional funding for implementation, please explain how you would obtain this funding.
- We have to address our crumbling transportation infrastructure in a way that foresees changing transportation technology. We have to address global warming so we do not burden our children with a climate tragedy. We have to make sure women have as many opportunities for advancement in the workplace and that includes access to cost-effective child care.